Metal precipitatob



J. A. MURPHY. METAL FRECIPITATOR AND SEPARATOR. APPMCATION FILED AUG. 15. 1919.

I. A. MURPHY. METAL PRECIPITATOR AND SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED AUGJS. 1919. v 1,349,086.. mem@ Aug, m, 92a

2 SHEETS-SH E EI 2- roiiivVV ANDREW Mnnrrrr, or PUEBLO, coLoRADd METAL 'PRECIPITATOR AND S-EPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 10, 1920.

Application flied August 15,1519. serial no. 317,762.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, JOHN A. MURrHLa citizenl of the United States, residing at Puehlmin the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useir'ul niprovemeiits in Metal Precipitators and Senarators, of which the following is a speci- Y lication. l

sly invention relates to new and useiul improvements in metal precipitators and separators.

'lne principal object of the invention is the provision of a device ol' this character particularly adapted for separating metals such as gold, silver, copper, and lead, from waste water from mines, tunnels, etc.

Another object of the invention is the construction ot theseparator in such a manner that lit will comprise a plurality ot compartments for separating and receiving-the dirterent types o-i metals.

.-i farther object of the invention resides in the provision of removable plates lor receiving the separated metals so that the plates maybe removed and the metal recovered.

lV ith these and other objects in View my invention consists in the novel details oit construction and arrangement of parts which will Vloe more clearly understood from theA l'ollowing -specilication and drawings in which Figure l is a topv plan. Y AFig. 2 a vtransverse vertical section on the line 22 oi Fig. 1 looking in the direction the arrow. i Y Fig.V 3 is a longitudinal verticalvv section on the line 3-3 of Fig. llflooki-ng; inthe direction or" the arrow.

i L1 is a perspective showing the underside o' one olj' the smaller separat-ing` plates.

liig. 5 is a perspective show-ing the underside of one of the larger separator plates.

Fig. 6 is a perspective showing atop view of a modilied form of small separator plates, and

l? 7 is a perspective showing a bottom view of a modified form of large separator plate. L

1n carrying out my invention l provide a receptacle or reservoir A which is divided into compartments 1, 2, 3, 4l, and 5. A chute 6 leads from the mine. tunnel, etc. and conveys the drain water into the receptacle or reservoir A. As shown more particularly in lVig. 1 ol the drawing the chute deposits the drain water in the receptacle 1 first. An outlet pipe T leads from the bottoni oli the compartment 5 as more particularly illustrated in ltig. 3 or' the drawings.

An opening c3 is termed in the bottom of die partition between compartments 1 and E, an opening 9 is formed in the top ol' the lpartition between the compartments Z and an opening 1i) is ormed i-n the bottom of the partition separating` compartments 3 and Ll, and an opening l1 is ormed in the side of the reservoir to iorm communication 'trom tile compartment a to the compartment i plurality of vertically spaced cleats are secured in the compartments 1, 2, 3, and Il and plates 13 are adapted to be received on these cleats. is shown in the drawings the plates 1&5 are preiicraijy termed ol" a sheet ot metal which is squarein configuration 'to contorni with the shape oi the compartment. .i central opening 1st is 'formed in each of he plates 18 and downwardly extending prongs 15 are struck Ptrom the plates. ille purpose oi these prongs will be presently its plurality of plates 16 are dapted to be received on the plates 13 and as shown more particularly in Fig. l ot the drawings the plates 16 `are of smaller size than the plates 125 and are provided on each corner with a prong or leg 17. By reference t.; lligs. 2 and 3 of the drawings it will be noted that the plates 16 are arranged intermediate the plates 13 and that the plates 13 are arranged adjacent the bottom and top the compartments. As shown the prongs cr 1? are adapted Yto rest upon the plates and the prongs 15 of the plates 13 are adapterY to engage the top of the plates 16. Vthis arrangement the plates 13 and 16 e snaced .V'ertically so that water may liow therebetween in a manner to be later described.

igs. 6 and .7 I have shown slightly niodilied loims oi the plates 13 and 16. ln 6 l have shown a small plate 18 formed wire mesh and provided with the prongs or legs 19 of the same material. In Fig. 7 have .shown one of the larger plates 2O which is of wire mesh and provided with a central opening 21 and prongs 22 struck therefrom. In using the plates 18 and 2O they will he arranged in the same manner as described for the plates 13 and 16.

' compartment 1 will-preferably be of tin, si'lc v `'fhe compartment 5 is adaptedl to be lled Y with mixed metal shavings and iilings 1n-` ver, or like material to separate and collect gold. 'lne platesl3vand16 or 18 and 20,

in the compartment 2 will be ophosphorus, bright steel, cr like material, to separate and collect copper.

The plates13 rand 16, or'18 and 20, in the compartment 3, will beocopper, copper plated with mercury, or like material, to

Vcollect silver. The plates 13 and 16 or 18 and 20, in the compartment 4, will be olf provide a separator of simple and 1neXpenzinc, iron, or like material, to separate and collectlead.l v

Asstated in the objects of the invention I sive construction particularly adapted for separating and collecting metal from drainage water from mines, etc. kThe water will pass Vdown the vchute 6 and be deposited into the compartmentrl of the reservoir A. The

" water willv pass through the openings 14 in theV water. F rom the vcompartment l the Y theV plates 13 and around the plate 16. vr1`he gold contained in the drainage water will be deposited uponthe plates 13 and 16 and the water will pass downwardly into the bottom of the compartment and` pass through the opening 8 into the. compartment 2. The water will pass! upwardly through the openings in the plates 13 andY around the plates 16 and copper inthe water will be deposited upon the plates. rIhe water will pass from the compartment 2 through the opening 9 into the compartment 3 and will take the same course as stated in the compartment 1. Silver in the water will ybe deposited upon the plates 13 and 16.` LThe water from the compartment 3 passes through the opening V10 into the compartment '4 and rises the same as described for the flow in compartment 2. The plates 13 and 16 will collect lead Jfromv water passes through theV opening 11 into the compartment 5 and passes down through the mixed metal shavings and iilings 23 and is exhausted through the outlet pipe 7. f The miXed'metal shavings and filings 23, in the V`ing deposited upon the plates 13 and 16 it will be understood that if the wire mesh plates 18 and 2O are used the metal will be collected on these plates in the Ysame manner. y

The foregoing description and the drawings'have reference to what may loe considered the preferred, or approvedform of my invention. Itis to be understood that I 'make such changes 1in construction and arrangement and combination or parts, materials, dimensions, etc. as provev expedient and fall' within the scope ofthe appended claims. 'e l' v Having fully described my invention what I claim as newand desirerto secure by Letters- Patent is: 'f Y 1. A metal separator comprising'a reservoir divided into a plurality ci: communieating compartments, vertically spaced cleats secured in each compartment, plates supportedon the cleats and provided with central openingshaving depending prongs .formed adjacent thereto, and small plates with legs adapted to engage the tops or the other `plates and said depending prongs adaptedto engage Vthe surface or' said smaller plates. v v

' A metal`separatorcomprising a' reservoir divided into a plurality of communi eating compartments, f vertically spaced plates secured in said ycompartments and having centrally located openings, depending prongs formed on said plates adjacent said openings, smaller plates arranged between said first mentioned plates and providedwith legs adapted to restupon one of V"said iirst mentioned plates while the def pending prongs of said first mentioned plates rest upon the surface of said smaller plates. T In testimony whereof I alllX my signature in presence of two witnesses'. Y f

1 YJOIrIN ANDREI/V MURPHY.

Y Witnesses: '1 v g P. C. GRIBBEN,

MAX BLACK'.

(Iii 

